The Yachts

Wild Oats XI

Wild Oats XI

 

Under the watchful eye of skipper Mark Richards, Wild Oats XI returns to the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race to try to break Brindabella’s 12 year old race record.  Wild Oats XI currently holds the record for the most consecutive line honours wins of the Rolex Sydney Hobart – four - she surpassed Morna’s record of three in a row achieved in the 1946-1948 races when she won in 2008.

In her Rolex Sydney Hobart debut in 2005 this maxi with canting ballast twin foil (CBTF) took line honours in record time and won the Tattersall’s Cup – the only boat to take the trifecta since Rani in the first race in 1945.

In 2009, Wild Oats XI underwent extensive modifications to increase her overall length to 100ft, in accordance with the rule changes to extend the maximum length overall of yachts from 98ft to 100ft.  In early 2010, Wild Oats XI made the rapid turn-around from Hobart to make the start line for the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race, where she took line honours. She then went on to take line honours in a tough Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race and the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race – missing the race record by only a couple of hours. She secured a fifth line honours victory in last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart.

 

Competitor Details

Yacht Name Wild Oats XI
Sail Number 10001
Owner Bob Oatley
Skipper Mark Richards
Crew P Westlake, C Links, B Morrison-Jack, I Smith, S Nolan, S Newton, T Spithill, G Taylor, N Bice, R Naismith, G Simmer, S Runow, J Hilderbrand, A Cahalan, R Daniels, M Shillington, J Whittaker
State NSW
Club RPAYC/HIYC
Type RP100
Designer Reichel/Pugh, USA
Builder McConaghy
Construction Carbon/Nomex
LOA 30.48
Beam 5.4
Draft 5.5